Cards in Magic & Mentalism: page 80

This is the third (and probably last) open prediction effect that I'm publishing. The other two that I've already published are called Open Prediction: A New Approach to a Classic Plot and Open Prediction: The Simplest Approach. I call this one Open Prediction: The Best Approach because, of the three, it is the strongest one (at least in my opinion).

Imagine:

The magician introduces a deck of cards - he spreads it to show that all the cards are different, and then hands it to the spectator. At this point, the magician openly predicts a card by naming it out loud.

The spectator is invited to cut off any number of cards and to flip them face-up on top of the rest of...

"Thomas Baxter would be proud." - Brian Draven

"If you're a fan of the open prediction plot as I am, this is worth checking out. It's a very original approach, which combines existing methods in a unique and clever way." - Michael Gustav

"A very nice idea. I can see myself using this. Super easy to perform too." - Kevin Schneider

In this e-book, I want to share with you my own solution for the classic open prediction plot. The one major advantage of this version is that there is proper shuffling by the spectator just before the final deal - and the magician never touches the deck...

"I checked out the Open Prediction 2025 and just wanted to say that's really cool. It's the exact type of card effects I like. It's just a genius method, so strong and direct, I love it. The fact it's so approachable for any skill level is great too." - Matt Overd

One of my favorite plots in card mentalism is the "Open Prediction". Many different scripts and presentations are possible with this classic from Paul Curry.

In this new method, we follow these practical conditions:

• Shuffled deck (even an incomplete one)
• A card is named as the "Open Prediction"
• Cards are dealt face down in your open hand...

This is one of Gugliemli's several methods for the open prediction that he is glad to offer all magicians. It should be noted that this effect does not respect all of the conditions set by Stewart James for his “51 Faces North”. This is a good Impromptu solution. It relies on sleight of hand to reach a 100% successful ending, but Tommaso tried to design the method to hide the “dirty work” and he has included 6 different techniques to hopefully meet the needs/styles of everyone. This method will require some practice before the performer can swiftly and confidently present the effect. ...

This is a collection of solutions to the famous 'open prediction' problem posed by Paul Curry.

From the introduction by Marc Paul:

The double deal is taking the top and bottom card at the same time. The open double deal is an idea by Marlo which eliminates the card alignment issue.

runtime: 54s

Please note that this video is in Vietnamese. There are some English subtitles, but for the most part you will get the instructions of how to make the gimmick and how to perform with it from the visual contents of the video.

From the brilliant mind of Vietnams top magicians Duc Thinh and Hoang Sam comes a very clean mis-made card effect. A corner of the spectators signed card switches inside out and switches back with very little movement.

1st edition 2016, length 16 minutes.

OPEC stands for Out of Position Elmsley Count - a variation by Ed Marlo.

runtime: 1min 25s

Yes, this looks impossible. You show four cards. Turn over one and the rest also magically turns over. That is just the warming-up effect. The real stunner is when you turn over the cards and suddenly three of them have big circles cut from their center and the fourth has changed color.

1st edition 2024, video 4:45.

You start by showing one joker and several blank cards, which are blank on both sides. Adding the joker to the blank cards makes them all become jokers on their faces. Then you do the same with the backs and end up with a pack of jokers. The blank cards have changed to jokers.

1st edition 2025, video 3:27.

This one-handed second deal has an interesting and very deceptive push-off because initially you push off only one card.

runtime: 1min 22s

It is what the title says, an overhand shuffle executed in one hand.

runtime: 48s

Double dealing means dealing the top and bottom card at the same time. This variaiton is done with one hand.

runtime: 39s

It looks easy when Allan does it, but this is a pretty tough move to do.

runtime: 1min 1s

You will learn two types of one-handed fans as well as a one-handed close of a fan.

runtime: 2min 10s

You can achieve a terrific illusion with this one-handed center deal of the push off variety.

runtime: 1min 25s

Another way to ditch/lap cards while you show them one by one. (Also part of Move Mastery 2.)

runtime: 8min 33s

There is a lot of magic crammed into this routine. Everything from a prediction, the finding of two selected and signed cards, and the transposition of the card's backs.

Here is the effect:

Phase 1: A single red backed card is placed off to one side, but is kept in full view throughout the proceedings. The performer states that there is one red card and one red card only. The spectator then selects any card and signs it (there is no force whatsoever). The card is returned to the center of the deck. The top card is shown, but it is not the signed card. The red backed card is turned over...

"This is one of the most important card magic manuscripts published in the last 25 years. The 'principle' is truly a lost gem and I'm shocked that it's completely out of use today. As the decades passed, it appears magicians forgot about it. Do not pass this up. If you are a serious student of card magic, this principle is something you should know about. Study this manuscript, learn the principle, and, most importantly, learn the history surrounding it.

I've been studying card magic for over 20 years and I never heard of this principle until the Unnamed Magician brought it to my attention....

Available again after a long absence is this fine work by J. Stewart Smith, presenting eleven more of his mystifying card effects, each of which is accomplished without knuckle-busting sleight of hand. This is the book that had card workers talking all over the country. It had to be good to receive praise from such internationally known close-up workers. See below for a few brief quotes from some of the very best.

PARTIAL CONTENTS:

• Ascending Treys
• Pop Over Treys
• The Four Aces
• The Four Queens
• Follow The Leader
• Sevens and Jacks
• The Inseparable Sevens
• Peek-A-Boo Discovery
• Horse...

This is a move that comes originally from gambling. It is hard to do well, but Allan gives you a number of valuable tips.

runtime: 2 min 6 s

This effect is undoubtedly a fooler. The magician will be able to cut to three cards that reveal the exact position of the spectator's card. Conditions are really impossible. A true miracle with a normal deck. Always great reactions from both magicians and laypeople. Always a different number.

After the magician gives the deck a shuffle, the spectator is asked to cut the deck about in half and to take from the lower portion some cards, shuffle them, remember the top card, and put them back on top of the lower portion of the deck. Then the spectator shuffles the top portion of the deck and...

Featuring an unexpected and impossible prediction. A spectator selects a card and shuffles it back into the deck while the magician's back is turned. The magician then identifies the spectator's card and reveals a duplicate of that card already present in the deck before the effect began.

• Easy to do
• No force of any kind
• All 52 cards are different
• No Multiple Outs
• Works 100% of the time
• No fishing
• No electronics
• No mirrors or shiners
• No dual reality
• No stooges
• No switches

Note: You will need to buy a corner rounder ($12).

1st edition 2025, PDF 10 pages.

Routines performed with a regular deck of cards.

CONTENTS AND CONTRIBUTORS:

• FEELING THE SPOTS (Howard Albright & Ken de Courcy): You reveal a freely selected card from a shuffled deck placed in your pocket.
• TRAMEZZINO (Aldo Colombini): A card is lost in the deck and four Aces are removed. The Ace of the same suit as the selection turns face down. The Ace is now face up in the deck and the face-down card in the Ace packet is the actual selected card.
• THE ULTIMATE GAME (Karl Fulves & Roy Walton): Amazing predictions with all the cards under the spectator's control.
• COMPELLING (Aldo Colombini): A lot of magic...